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jeune [2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992,
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23 June 1976

MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Security Analysis Group

SUBJECT : Manuel L. DE ARMAS
SF#591 865

1. Reference is made to the attached cable traffic which
sets forth the "defection" of the Subject to Cuba circa April
1976, In substance, DE ARMAS apparently gave a press conference
in Havana on 21 April 1976 in which he claimed to be an ex-CIA
agent who had been recruited by a fnu BLACKENHOUSE (no Office
of Security traces) in 1969. DE ARMAS also claimed to have been
Stationed in New York City in 1971 where he maintained contact
with BLACKENHOUSE and Richard TOMLEY (probably identifiable :
with Peter L. B. TOMLEY, Washington Area Recruiting Office). x

2. In the cited press conference, DE ARMAS made many an
allegations concerning purported CIA operations, such as

assassination plots and a plan to rupture relations between
Venezuela and Cuba. Details of these allegations are set

forth in the attached cable traffic and are not treated in
instant memorandum. However, interest in DE ARMAS' allegations
concerning alleged CIA operations concerns the identities of
individuals that he claimed to have been Agency operatives and
assets; details regarding these individuals are covered in the
latter portion of instant memorandum.

3. Agency.interest in DE ARMAS was originally predicated
upon the receipt of a letter written by DE ARMAS on 12 September
1972 in which he related details concerning his anti-CASTRO
activities through his membership in a group called ABDALA,

The letter also contained a request for employment with the
Agency. As a result of DE ARMAS? letter, WH Division requested
a Special Inquiry by the Office of Security for the purpose of
establishing DE ARMAS' identity, which was completed in October
1972. In May 1973 Office of Personnel opened a file on DE ARMAS
and apparently went through the normal routine of shopping his
file. Interest in DE ARMAS terminated when TOMLEY sent DE ARMAS
a letter advising him that the Agency had nothing currently
available. Then on 22 January 1973 DE ARMAS wrote TOMLEY
thanking the latter for interest following a telephone call

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DE ARMAS made to TOMLEY in which DE ARMAS wanted to know once
and forever if there were any openings for him. DE ARMAS!
Security file reflected no subsequent activity except for the
attached cable traffic following his "defection."

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. 4, Regarding the personalities mentioned by DE ARMAS

in his Havana press conference, it appears that several
individuais may be identical to former WH Division assets, as
shown beisw. It should be noted that DE ARMAS did not identify ar
any bona fide Agency staff employees or agents nor does it
appear that he identified any past or current operations. It
seems likely that DE ARMAS was provided a list of known or
Suspected Agency assets by the DGI as part of Cuba's. ongoing
anti-CIA, anti-U. S. Government campaign designed to offset
adverse criticism to Cuba's military assistance to Angola.

Set forth below are those individuals alleged to have been
connected with Agency operations by DE ARMAS; results.of Office
of Security indices searches and file reviews follow each name
where a possible identification could be made.

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NAME GIVEN BY DE ARMAS OS FILE, IF ANY, AND COMMENTS

Bob DYNES _ No Office of Security traces :
(aka: DINUS, DAYNES) regarding all variations. »

Robert Bud MILES (alleged No Office of Security traces. .

to have been the supplier
of explosives used in the
mY murder of Rolando MASFERRER)

Lazaro ALVAREZ Possibly identifiable with
Lazaro Gustavo ARECES ALVAREZ,
SF#753 905, on whom a POA was
requested by WH Division :
(JMATE) in June 1964 for use SG
as a PM/Maritime asset; files :
canceled in October 1964, '

Fred DUNCAN No Office of Security traces;
believed to be a DEA officer
stationed in Caracas.

Doug PHILLIPS No Office of Security traces;

believed to-be a DEA officer

Stationed in Caracas.

* Masre nner Died YA 149s
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NAME GIVEN BY DE ARMAS

John VALDAVIAN
({aka> BLADABIAN)

A. NASS

Anselmo ALLIEGRO (HIJO)

Justo ALFONSO
(aka: "El Gallego")
Ricardo MORALES NAVARRETE

Armando RUIZ

de LEON

MEJIA RICARD
RICART)

used by WH/1/Mexico as a LP
operator from December 1964

OS FILE, IF ANY, AND COMMENTS

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No Office of Security traces
regarding all variations.

Probably identifiable with
Donald L. NESS, State Depart-
ment.RSO in Santo Domingo.

~No Office of Security traces.

No Office of Security traces.

No Office of Security traces.

Possibly identifiable with
Armando VALENZUELA RUIZ,
SF#752 358. OA request by
WH/3AColumbia for use as a4
PA in Columbia or PRC;/ not
used due to significant
derogatory information
developed.

Possibly identifiable with
Sergio Aritonio LOPEZ DE LEON,
SF#740 227, who was apparently

to May 1973 in Mexico. 24 ~
Probably identifiable with
Marcio MEJIA RICART, CR to
SF#244 148 (Manuel Moises
LANARCHE SALAS). © In June

1960 latter advised FBI that
RICART was a Venezuelan active
in anti-TRUJILLO activities
and had visited Miami in April
to buy B-26's and weapons for
an attack on- the Dominican
Republic; also advised that
RICART was an instructor at
Caracas University, was asso-

ciated with Director of Economic

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NAME GIVEN BY DE ARMAS OS FILE, IF ANY, AND COMMENTS |
Development in Venezuela and é

. believed RICART may be a B
Communist. 7

Luis DESA SOTO , No Office of Security traces. nal
Felix MARTINEZ SUAREZ Possibly identifiable with ;

Felix Antonio MARTINEZ SUAREZ,
SF#242 302, who was Director
f El Mundo when a POA was 5
granted in April-1961 and up- :
dated in July 1973 for his use :
by WH/3/V as a.Propaganda 2y

\_ Placement Asset.

Salavador ROMANI Possibly identifiable with
Salvador Garcia ROMANI-ORUE
SF#223 776; on whom an OA
was granted in September 1960 24
for use by WH/4/Cuba as a P
Agent in Caracas; files can-

eled in January 1967. On
PRQ listed one Manuel ARTIME,
not further identified, as a
relative/friend/correspondent
in U. S.

5. The possible identification (by either DE ARMAS or the
DGI) of those WH Division assets reflected above suggests that
their names were either known or suspected as CIA assets and were
thrown in with those individuals not identified above in an os
effort to legitimatize DE ARMAS’ claims to have worked for the oa
CIA. It should be noted that of those individuals listed above
on whom a security file exists, none appear to have any current *%
association with this Agency and, as far as can be determined, “
no actual Agency operations were either exposed or threatened. %

6. The above is provided for your information; no further
action in this case appears necessary,

Michael E. Schneeberger
Security Analysis Group

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